kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 22, 2020 9:51:22 GMT -5
Lately I've started working with my macro lens to try to learn how to shoot minerals. My goal is to take high magnification shots of patterns and inclusions to turn into abstract prints. Friday I received the magnifying filters I ordered. I wondered if they'd work with my macro lens. They do, yay!! Here are some shots of unpolished specimens that I used as test subjects.  Texas petrified wood  Laguna moss agate  Here's a polished piece of west Texas agate I finished  All of them were taken with a Nikon d5600 with a 60mm Nikkor micro lens in natural daylight. Hand held because I was just playing around to see what works. The pictures were lightly edited for exposure in Lightroom. I also used one of the new vivitar magnifying filers I just got on the plume agate shot. Rocks plus photos equals happy |
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 25, 2020 8:48:03 GMT -5
Here are a couple more shots that I took on the weekend. Hope you guys enjoy them This is a local Jasper from East Texas.  Here's a piece of Regency Rose. I am rapidly falling in love with this material. It may just be my favorite agate yet.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 25, 2020 10:15:13 GMT -5
Wow. That is (and you are) taking some really amazing macros! I picked up a lens that attaches to my phone camera...it was a sever disappointment. It DOES take 60x magnification shots, but it causes a "fisheye" with the pic. So there's a really small circle of visible picture. I thought it might be a good alternative to getting a nice camera. Nope! LOL |
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Nov 25, 2020 11:56:33 GMT -5
Great photos! You could blow that regency rose up, frame it, and have a nice wall hanging. I have 4 (sort of) similar photos in my computer room and I really like them.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 25, 2020 18:41:25 GMT -5
That's a bummer to hear it didn't work out jasoninsd. Try taking the pic normally with your phone but zoom in. It might br a little grainy but thats easy to fix. mossyrockhound thank you for the compliment! I'd love to print some of these out. Just have to drag out the printer and get busy. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 25, 2020 18:44:42 GMT -5
When I try to zoom in with the phone alone, it won't focus...then it won't take the pic. Here's what that attachment did:  |
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 27, 2020 9:47:36 GMT -5
Hmm that's really odd. Almost like it's a reversed lens. You shouldn't see the tube of the lens like that. Was it made for your model camera? When I said to zoom in, I should have explained better Camera (lenses) have what's called a minimum working distance. If you put the phone camera too close to the rock, it won't be able to focus. Move the phone back from the object until it focuses and then use your fingers to zoom in on the screen. Then re-tap the new point you want to focus. That's called digital zooming. If you already know all this ...sorry!  Here'an example from my old android phone.   |
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 27, 2020 10:02:03 GMT -5
Not a reversed lens. It's a cheap "magnifying glass" that clips onto the phone. I got suckered into the fake pictures in the eBay auction which showed full screen pictures. I saw pics in other auctions which showed this fisheye type picture. I should've known it was going to be the same...but I'm only out $8...which also should've been an indication. LOL
I was trying to find a solution for the phone camera not being able to take good macro shots like I've seen other phones being able to do. But to no avail.
I do know about the zoom in and touch the focus spot thingy on the screen...but this phone just won't do the type of close-ups I am hoping for.
Solution #1 - buy a new/different phone.
Solution #2 - make (I mean ask) my dad to use the cameras he bought for a newly found "photography hobby" which he rarely uses.
I'm going with solution #2...I don't have to spend any money...it allows me to spend time with my dad (after his quarantine)...and it gets my mom off his back for taking up another hobby and never doing anything with it. LOL
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 27, 2020 21:32:01 GMT -5
Oh I like your solution #2. Everyone is happy 😊😊 There are some good macro channels out there on YouTube. I learned a lot from them. If you need any help let me know.
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Post by stephan on Dec 5, 2020 16:42:56 GMT -5
Not a reversed lens. It's a cheap "magnifying glass" that clips onto the phone. I got suckered into the fake pictures in the eBay auction which showed full screen pictures. I saw pics in other auctions which showed this fisheye type picture. I should've known it was going to be the same...but I'm only out $8...which also should've been an indication. LOL I was trying to find a solution for the phone camera not being able to take good macro shots like I've seen other phones being able to do. But to no avail. I do know about the zoom in and touch the focus spot thingy on the screen...but this phone just won't do the type of close-ups I am hoping for. Solution #1 - buy a new/different phone. Solution #2 - make (I mean ask) my dad to use the cameras he bought for a newly found "photography hobby" which he rarely uses. I'm going with solution #2...I don't have to spend any money...it allows me to spend time with my dad (after his quarantine)...and it gets my mom off his back for taking up another hobby and never doing anything with it. LOL #2 does sound like a good choice. I remember seeing a billboard once that said “If it has a ringtone, it’s not a camera.” I know the ones on phones have gotten better, but in general they are over-hyped. Every time a new iPhone/iPad comes out, they talk about how amazing the camera is, but I’ve yet to be impressed. Samsung phones are said to better, but I haven’t tried. Bummer on the “lens.” Looks like you got a tube with some curved plastic or glass on one side. I guess there will be non-5-star review for that seller. |
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Post by stephan on Dec 5, 2020 16:46:37 GMT -5
kyoti some nice shots. I’m still learning with rocks — especially shiny ones. My insect macros are much better than my rock ones.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Dec 8, 2020 16:41:54 GMT -5
stephan I'm still learning to take pictures of the rocks as well. I find it tricky because you want to capture the nice glossy shine but you also want to show what's inside of them. It's fun though. I started trying to take insect shots this past spring. They are tricky because the critters move so quickly. At least the rocks and flowers hang out waiting patiently I've actually taken some good shots on my phone too. If you play with the settings or even put them onto manual, you can get some stellar shots. I'll post some up for inspiration when I get home this evening. Some of the strange petrified wood like material I have been finding lately has me a bit confused as to how to polish it. So I have been photographing it rough cut. Some of it almost looks almost like common opal mixed with some other material. I thought it was a calcite but it doesn't glow orange in UV like it should. It glows more of a whitish color. It's softer than agate but harder than the local travertine. The first picture in the post is one of them.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 9, 2020 0:09:02 GMT -5
kyoti - I wanted to tell you I figured something out about taking pics with my phone and 60x magnifying lens (not the cheap one I recently bought). If I zoom my camera phone to 2.5x (rather than leaving it at 1x) and hold the magnifying lens up to the phone camera lens, the zooming into the 2.5x eliminates the "fisheye" effect! Definitely not as good as some of the shots you're getting with your Nikon though!  Just thought I'd share the news...I was pretty stoked about it. I got some great macro shots of the Fairburn I found today doing it this way...
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Dec 9, 2020 9:50:20 GMT -5
jasoninsd Awesome news! I saw the pictures and they came out really well! Glad it's working for you now. I love my phone camera. Especially when I go cycling. It's mapping my ride, it's light, it's always there and it's sitting in my pocket ready to take pictures. The Nikon and it's lenses are 20 lb of ugh! in my backpack with almost no room for rocks. The horror!
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 9, 2020 19:19:52 GMT -5
jasoninsd Awesome news! I saw the pictures and they came out really well! Glad it's working for you now. I love my phone camera. Especially when I go cycling. It's mapping my ride, it's light, it's always there and it's sitting in my pocket ready to take pictures. The Nikon and it's lenses are 20 lb of ugh! in my backpack with almost no room for rocks. The horror! Yep...I'd want my phone with me if I went cycling too! It would act as a homing beacon for the ambulance to find me! LOL The "no room for rocks" made me laugh! |
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Post by stephan on Dec 10, 2020 0:28:24 GMT -5
kyoti - I wanted to tell you I figured something out about taking pics with my phone and 60x magnifying lens (not the cheap one I recently bought). If I zoom my camera phone to 2.5x (rather than leaving it at 1x) and hold the magnifying lens up to the phone camera lens, the zooming into the 2.5x eliminates the "fisheye" effect! Definitely not as good as some of the shots you're getting with your Nikon though! Just thought I'd share the news...I was pretty stoked about it. I got some great macro shots of the Fairburn I found today doing it this way... How do you hold the rock? Do you have three hands? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 10, 2020 0:43:00 GMT -5
kyoti - I wanted to tell you I figured something out about taking pics with my phone and 60x magnifying lens (not the cheap one I recently bought). If I zoom my camera phone to 2.5x (rather than leaving it at 1x) and hold the magnifying lens up to the phone camera lens, the zooming into the 2.5x eliminates the "fisheye" effect! Definitely not as good as some of the shots you're getting with your Nikon though! Just thought I'd share the news...I was pretty stoked about it. I got some great macro shots of the Fairburn I found today doing it this way... How do you hold the rock? Do you have three hands? My talents know no bounds!  * Artistic license taken with the "actor portrayal" of Jason! |
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